Hawzah News Agency – Speakers at an international congress on the holy city of   al-Quds (Jerusalem) underlined that the city should be liberated and all Palestinians should be able to return to their lands.

As the International Quds Day approaches, the second Al-Quds Congress was held online Tuesday due to the coronavirus restrictions. Speakers at the webinar underlined all world Muslims’ support for Palestinians. They said that Muslim should rise up to defend Palestine and that it needs Islamic unity.

International Quds Day, a slap in the face of the Zionist regime

They also described the International Quds Day as a slap in the face of the Zionist regime and other enemies of Islam.

This day is one for reviving the issue of Palestine and seeking justice by the world, Suheil Asa’ad, a scholar and media activist said at the event.

He added that in order for Palestine to become an independent state, all Palestinians should return home.

He said a free Palestine will let Muslims, Christians and Jews to live together in peace and this is the demand of all people of Palestine.

Other speakers referred to the Zionist regime as the cause of insecurity, instability, poverty, and conflicts in the region, hoping for the liberation of Palestine and an end to Israeli occupation.

Save Palestine is a religious obligation

Speaking at the Second International Congress of Holy Quds, held via videoconferencing on Tuesday, Abdul Hadi Awang Mohammad said: “The Zionist regime was established by usurping the land of Palestine. Palestine is a holy land that Muslims must defend, and jihad to save Palestine is a religious obligation.”

Referring to the phenomenon of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, the Malaysian official said: “This revolution took a historic position after its victory and did not recognize Israel. Establishing a state in the name of Israel in Palestine is forbidden by Sharia, and Palestine is Islamic land.”

“Palestine does not belong to one ethnic group,” Awang Mohammad added.

“The Zionist regime was established by usurping the land of Palestine in broad daylight,” he said.

“Unfortunately, some (Islamic) governments have begun to normalize relations with this regime,” he added.

"The Islamic Revolution of Iran is a light that cannot be extinguished. God says that they want to turn off the divine light, but he prevents it from going out,” he continued.

The Second International Congress of Holy Quds started on Tuesday via videoconference with the slogan of “al-Quds is closest,” with the attendance of national and international figures from different countries.

The event held with participation of 30 scientific and cultural figures from Iran, Palestine, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, France, Argentina, Iraq, Turkey, Chile, UAE, Lebanon, Syria, UK, Canada and Tunisia on May 4-5.

History of  International Quds Day

The International Quds Day is a legacy of the late founder of the Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, who designated the day in solidarity with Palestinians.

Since the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, the International Quds Day has been held worldwide on the last Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Since then, the world's freedom-seekers, especially in Islamic countries, have been staging massive rallies and organized special ceremonies to mark the occasion.

This year, the International Quds Day falls on Friday, May 7.